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Cast

Michael Shannon

Gary Noesner

Academy Award®, Golden Globe® and Tony Award® nominated actor Michael Shannon continues to make his mark in entertainment, working with the industry's most respected talent and treading the boards in notable theaters around the world.

Shannon will next be seen in Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water, a love story set against the backdrop of Cold War-era America. The film co-stars Sally Hawkins, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg and Octavia Spencer. Fox Searchlight will release the film December 2017.

In 2018, Shannon will return to Red Orchard Theatre for its 25th Anniversary to direct the world premiere of Traitor, Brett Neveu's adaption of Henrik Ibsen's Enemy of the People. Traitor will include ensemble members Dado, Larry Grimm, Danny McCarthy, Guy Van Swearingen and Natalie West and will run from January 5, 2018 through February 25, 2018.

Back on the big screen, Shannon will then be seen in the Nicolai Fuglsig's 12 Strong opposite Chris Hemsworth. The project follows a team of CIA agents and special forces who head into Afghanistan in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in an attempt to dismantle the Taliban. Warner Brothers is releaseing the film in January 2018. Later next year, Shannon will also be seen in writer-director Elizabeth Chomko's drama, What They Had, opposite Hilary Swank. The story centers on a woman who must fly back to her hometown when her Alzheimer's-stricken mother wanders into a blizzard and the return home forces her to confront her past, which includes her brother (Shannon). Bleeker Street will release on March 16, 2018.

Upcoming, he has Meredith Danluck's State Like Sleep, alongside Katherine Waterson, where he plays the deceased Belgian husband of an American photographer (Waterson) who, one year after the unexpected death of her husband, receives a call that pulls her back the life she has tried to forget. He has also lensed Seth Henrikson's Pottersville opposite Thomas Lennon and Judy Greer. The story focuses on Maynard (Shannon), a beloved local businessman who is mistaken for the legendary Bigfoot during an inebriated romp through town in a makeshift gorilla costume. Shannon will also co-star in Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's The Current War, opposite Benedict Cumberbatch. The film takes place in the late 1880s and revolves around two titans, George Westinghouse (Shannon) and Thomas Edison (Cumberbatch) and follows their battle to create a sustainable electricity system and market. Shannon also has HBO's "Fahrenheit 451," opposite Michael B. Jordan. The drama is based on Ray Bradbury's 1953 dystopian novel of the same name. The film depicts a future where media is an opiate, history is outlawed and "firemen" burn books. It follows Montag (Jordan), a young fireman who forsakes his world, struggling to regain his humanity, ultimately battling his fireman captain and mentor (Shannon).

In 2016, Shannon was seen in Tom Ford's Nocturnal Animals, an adaptation of Austin Wright's 1993 novel Tony and Susan in which he stars opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, Amy Adams and Aaron Taylor Johnson. For his performance, Shannon received an Academy Award® and Critics Choice® nomination. Earlier that year, Shannon marked his collaborate re-team with director, Jeff Nichols, starring in the sci-fi thriller Midnight Special and appearing in the drama Loving. Shannon's previous collaborations with Nichols include Take Shelter, for which he received a 2011 Film Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actor; as well as the films Mud and Shotgun Stories.

Most notably, Shannon garnered critical acclaim for his Oscar® nominated supporting role in Revolutionary Road, playing 'John Givings,' the psychologically troubled neighbor's son. Directed by Sam Mendes and adapted by Justin Haythe, Shannon stars opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and Kathy Bates. He went on to receive additional acclaim for Ramin Bahrani's timely drama 99 Homes, co-starring opposite Andrew Garfield. Set against the backdrop of the economic crisis, Shannon portrayed 'Rick Carver,' a charismatic and ruthless real estate tycoon gaming the market and home banking system. He was nominated for a Golden Globe®, Screen Actors Guild®, Critics Choice®, Gotham Award® and Film Independent Spirit Award on behalf of this performance.

On television, Shannon's credits include Martin Scorsese's HBO series, "Boardwalk Empire," which completed its fifth and final season. Based on Nelson Johnson's book of the same name, the hit show centers on an Atlantic City liquor distribution ring at the onset of Prohibition. Shannon portrayed 'Nelson Van Alden,' a dedicated senior agent with the Treasury Department who has a strong interest in controlling bootlegging.

Outside of his roles on screen, Shannon maintains a strong connection to theater. Most recently, Shannon was seen in the Red Orchid Theater reprise production of Simpatico which is the opening season performance at the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, New Jersey. The production will include Shannon and the original 2013 cast including Dado, Kristin Ellis, Jennifer Engstrom, Mierka Girten, Van Swearingen and Doug Vickers.

Last year, he was seen on Broadway co-starring alongside Jessica Lange, Gabriel Byrne, and John Gallagher Jr. in Long Day's Journey into Night. Produced by the Roundabout Theater Company and directed by Jonathan Kent, the revival of Eugene O'Neill's landmark 1956 drama led Shannon to a Tony® nomination for 'Supporting Actor' as well as 2016 Drama Desk Award for 'Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play.' Prior to that, Shannon appeared opposite Paul Rudd, Ed Asner, and Kate Arrington in Grace at the Cort Theatre. For his portrayal of 'Sam,' a distrustful and lonely computer genius who had recently lost his fiancé in a car accident, Shannon was nominated for a 2013 Distinguished Performance Drama League Award. Shannon also led Craig Wright's off-Broadway play, Mistakes Were Made, at the Barrow Street Theater. Directed by Dexter Bullard, Shannon portrays 'Felix Artifex,' a small time theatre producer, who gets in way over his fast-talking head when he takes on an epic about the French Revolution. The play received its world premiere at A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago in 2009 with the same cast and director. The critically acclaimed production garnered numerous accolades for Shannon, including an Outstanding Lead Actor Lortel Award nomination, an Outstanding Actor in a Play Drama Desk Award nomination, an Outstanding Solo Performance Outer Critics Award nomination, and a Distinguished Performance Drama League Award nomination.

Kitsch then starred in The Bang Bang Club as Kevin Carter, a true story about four young photojournalists whose graphic images drew the world's attention to the last stages of apartheid in South Africa.

Two years later, Kitsch collaborated again with FNL's creator, Peter Berg, starring in Berg's acclaimed war thriller, Lone Survivor, with Mark Wahlberg and Eric Bana. From there, Taylor went on to act in Oliver Stone's Savages, and Disney's live-action film John Carter, directed by the acclaimed Andrew Stanton.

In 2014 Kitsch made his return to television, appearing alongside Julia Roberts and Mark Ruffalo in HBO's Emmy Award Winning Movie, The Normal Heart directed by Ryan Murphy. The following year, he starred in the second season of HBO's True Detective with Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams and Vince Vaughn.

Taylor recently appeared opposite Michael Keaton and Dylan O'Brien in the adaptation of Vince Flynn's novel, American Assassin directed by Michael Cuesta as well as in Joseph Kosinski's film, Only the Brave opposite Josh Brolin and Miles Teller.

Andrea Riseborough

Judy Schneider

Riseborough can currently be seen in Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris' Battle of the Sexes starring as "Marilyn Barnett" alongside Emma Stone and Steve Carell. The film tells the true story of the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Fox Searchlight released the film in the U.S. September 22, 2017.

Upcoming films include Armando Iannucci's The Death of Stalin and Andrew Heckler's Burden. In the former, she stars as "Svetlana Stalin" alongside Rupert Friend, Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor and Jason Isaacs. The film premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. The latter is based on the true story of Mike Burden, an orphan raised within the Ku Klux Klan who breaks away from the Klan when the woman he falls in love with urges him to leave. Riseborough stars alongside Garrett Hedlund and Forest Whitaker.

Riseborough will also star in an episode of the fourth season of Netflix's critically-acclaimed "Black Mirror." The series will return to Netflix late 2017.

Early 2017, Andrea wrapped production on Christina Choe's Nancy, which she also served as a producer on. She stars alongside Steve Buscemi, Ann Dowd and John Leguizamo in the film, which follows a serial imposter whose elaborate lies inevitably unravel.

In 2016, Riseborough starred as "Alessia" in Tom Ford's Nocturnal Animals. Focus released the film in the United States on November 23rd, 2016. In 2015, she shared with her fellow actors from Alejandro González Iñárritu's Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. The film won four Academy Awards including Best Picture.

On television, Risborough recently starred in the Hulu four-part mini-series "National Treasure" alongside Robbie Coltrane and Julie Waters. Written by BAFTA®-winning writer Jack Thorne, the drama commissioned by Channel 4 examines the impact of sexual accusations against a much-loved public-figure. Riseborough can also be seen in Netflix's critically-acclaimed drama "Bloodline." Riseborough makes an unforgettable entrance in season two, which rattles the entire family. She can also be seen in Julian Jarrold's TV movie, "The Witness for the Prosecution," based on the Agatha Christie play of the same name.

Growing up in the U.K. seaside resort of Whitley Bay, she wrote and created her own worlds. At the age of nine, her drama teacher recommended her for an audition at the People's Theatre (home of the Royal Shakespeare Company in Newcastle), and she appeared in her first public production there.

Whilst still attending the Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts (RADA), she began taking external acting roles in telefilms and theatre productions. After leaving RADA, she starred the Oppenheimer Award-winning play A Brief History of Helen of Troy at the Soho Theatre, directed by Gordon Anderson, and was nominated as Best Newcomer at the 2005 Theatre Goers' Choice Awards. Ms. Riseborough's first feature film role was in Roger Michell's Venus (2006), starring her good friend Jodie Whittaker and Peter O'Toole.

She starred for six months at the National Theatre, in Deborah Gearing's Burn, Enda Walsh's Chatroom and Mark Ravenhill's Citizenship, all directed by Anna Mackmin. She was honored with the Ian Charleson Award for her performance in Peter Hall's Royal Shakespeare Company staging of Measure for Measure.

Ms. Riseborough embarked on her first lead role in a television series with "Party Animals," alongside Matt Smith, Raquel Cassidy and Andrew Buchan.

Mike Leigh offered her a place in the company of his film Happy-Go-Lucky. She made the movie and then starred at the Royal Court Theatre in Bruce Norris' The Pain and the Itch, for which she was nominated as Best Supporting Actress at the 2007 Theatre Goers' Choice Awards.

Ms. Riseborough then starred as Margaret Thatcher in the telefilm Margaret Thatcher – The Long Walk to Finchley, directed by Niall McCormick, for which she received a BAFTA Award nomination; starred in the short film Love You More, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and written by Patrick Marber; starred in Avie Luthra's independent feature Mad Sad & Bad; and played the lead role in the miniseries The Devil's Whore, about the 17th-Century English Civil War, directed by Marc Munden.

On stage, she starred in Dorota Maslowska's A Couple of Poor, Polish-Speaking Romanians, at The Soho Theatre; and in the Donmar Warehouse production of Ivanov, opposite Kenneth Branagh and Tom Hiddleston. She made her U.S. stage debut in Alexi Kaye Campbell's The Pride, directed by Joe Mantello.

Among her feature films are Mark Romanek's Never Let Me Go; Nigel Cole's Made in Dagenham; Rowan Joffe's Brighton Rock; Madonna's W.E., as Wallis Simpson; Amit Gupta's Resistance; Henry Alex Rubin's Disconnect; Joseph Kosinski's Oblivion, opposite Tom Cruise; Eran Creevy's Welcome to the Punch; Corinna McFarlane's The Silent Storm; the Duffer Brothers' Hidden and James Marsh's Shadow Dancer, opposite Clive Owen, for which Ms. Riseborough won the British Independent Film Award (BIFA), the Evening Standard British Film Award, and the London Critics' Circle Film Award for Best Actress.

John Leguizamo

Jacob Vasquez

Emmy® Award-winner, John Leguizamo, has appeared in over 100 films and countless television shows while establishing a career that defies categorization. With boundless and visceral creativity, his work in film, theatre, television, and literature covers a variety of genres, continually threatening to create a few of its own.

John returned to Broadway at Studio 54 in Fall 2017 with his critically acclaimed one-man show Latin History For Morons. In the play, he delivers delivered his take on 500 years of Latin History spanning the Aztec and Incan Empries, to World War II. Latin History For Morons.

Leguizamo was recently seen in the third and final season of "Bloodline" where he reprised his role as Ozzy Delvecchio.

Upcoming projects include The Adventures of Drunky, set for release this year and ABC's TV movie drama "Salamander;" Nancy, opposite Andrea Riseborough, Steve Buscemi and Ann Dowd.

John garnered a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as a sensitive drag queen in To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, was the recipient of the 2002 ALMA Special Achievement Award for Entertainer of the Year, and picked up ALMA Award nominations for his roles in Moulin Rouge (Best Supporting Actor) and King of the Jungle (Best Lead Actor).

Leguizamo's TV work also includes "The Kill Point;" "ER;" "My Name is Earl;" "The Brothers Garcia;" "House of Buggin';" and "Miami Vice."

In 1991, Leguizamo created his first off-Broadway sensation as the writer and performer of his one-man show Mambo Mouth, in which he portrayed seven different characters. He received Obie, Outer Critics Circle and Vanguardia awards for this specific performance. Leguizamo went on to create his second off-Broadway one-man show Spic-O-Rama, which garnered a Dramatists' Guild Hull-Warriner Award for Best American Play, the Lucille Lortel Outstanding Achievement Award for Best Broadway Performance, the Theatre World Award for Outstanding New Talent, and the Drama Desk Award for Best Solo Performance. Leguizamo's debut to Broadway was his one-man show, Freak, for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Play and Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play. Additional theater credits include, Sexaholix… A Love Story, which received a Tony nomination for Best Special Theatrical Performance; A Midsummer Night's Dream, La Puta Vida Trilogy; and American Buffalo.

John went on to film special presentations for HBO for his one-man shows including "Mambo Mouth;" "Spic-O-Rama;" "Freak," for which he won a Emmy® Award for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program; "Sexaholix… A Love Story;" and "Ghetto Klown."

Leguizamo lengthened his lists of credits with his first literary project in 2006 with his memoir, "Pimps, Hos, Playa Hatas and All the Rest of My Hollywood Friends: My Life." He also released "Ghetto Klown," the graphic novel adaptation of his 2011 Drama Desk award winning one-man Broadway show in 2015.

Leguizamo currently resides in New York City with his wife and two children.

Rory Culkin

David Thibodeau

Most recently, Rory Culkin was seen as the lead role in Ari Gold's independent drama Song Of Sway Lake, which screened at this year's Woodstock Film Festival. His performance in Columbus, opposite Parker Posey and John Cho, also received much acclaim following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Rory will next be seen in Jonas Akerlund's highly anticipated heavy metal thriller Lords Of Chaos, opposite Emory Cohen, as well as in Unchained, opposite John Malkovich and Adrien Brody.

Rory garnered critical acclaim for his performances in M. Night Shyamalan's Signs, as well as in Derick Martini's Lymelife, opposite Alec Baldwin, which won the FIPRESCI Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2008. He also appeared in Scream 4, directed by Wes Craven, alongside Hayden Panettiere and Courtney Cox. His performance as the title character in Ben Howe's feature Gabriel, which premiered at the 2014 TriBeCa Film Festival, earned him a nomination in the 2015 Gotham Independent Film Awards. Variety called his performance "electrifying" and Indiewire described it as his "best performance."

Rory was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for his performance opposite Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo in the Paramount Classics release You Can Count On Me, directed by Kenneth Lonergan. He starred in Electrick Children, opposite Julia Garner and Billy Zane; Twelve with Chace Crawford; and Hick, opposite Blake Lively and Chloe Grace Moretz. He also starred in Adam Schindler's feature Intruders opposite Martin Starr.

Additional film credits include Patrick Stettner's The Night Listener, opposite Robin Williams; The Chumscrubber with Glenn Close and Jamie Bell; Down In The Valley opposite Edward Norton and Evan Rachel Wood; and The Zodiac with Justin Chambers and Robin Tunney.

Melissa Benoist

Rachel Koresh

Melissa Benoist stars in the title role in the CW series "Supergirl," from DC Entertainment and producer Greg Berlanti. The series follows her character's tumultuous journey to heroism after a natural disaster impels her to embrace the powers that she spent so much of her life hiding. The critically acclaimed series also stars Mehcad Brooks, Chyler Leigh, Jeremy Jordan, David Harewood and Calista Flockhart. Benoist won the 2017 Teen Choice Award for "Choice TV Actress: Action" for her role. "Supergirl" is currently airing its third season.

Benoist recently wrapped production on the feature film Sun Dogs, opposite Michael Angarano, Allison Janney, and Ed O'Neill. This is the feature film directorial debut of Jennifer Morrison, penned by Anthony Tambakis, that tells the story of a courage-obsessed misfit who takes a Marine captain's advice to protect the home front a little too seriously. The film will have its world premiere at the 2017 Los Angeles Film Festival in June 2017.

In May 2017, Benoist starred in the Jason Blum and Brian Grazer-produced Universal Studios film, Lowriders, which takes place in the world of lowrider cars and street tagging in East Los Angeles. Directed by Ricardo de Montreuil, Lowriders originally premiered at the 2016 Los Angeles Film Festival.

In December 2016, Benoist starred in Peter Berg's Patriots Day, a drama about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing in which she appears opposite Mark Wahlberg, J.K. Simmons, and John Goodman. Benoist plays 'Katherine Russell,' the wife of one of the two brothers who planted the bombs.

In January 2016, Benoist starred in Band of Robbers, a comedic thriller based on Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." Benoist also shared the screen with Scott Eastwood and Britt Robertson in The Longest Ride, based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks. Benoist plays Robertson's best friend and sorority sister 'Marcia' in the modern day tale of star-crossed lovers who must somehow meld their seemingly incompatible loves of bull riding and modern art. The Longest Ride premiered April 10, 2015 and grossed $13 million in its opening weekend. In March 2015, Benoist teamed with Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner, Bobby Cannavale and Christopher Plummer in the feature film Danny Collins. Dan Fogelman's directorial debut found its inspiration in the life story of folk singer Steve Tilston.

In 2014, Benoist starred alongside Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons in the critically acclaimed drama Whiplash, based upon writer/director Damien Chazelle's own experiences in the Princeton High School Studio Band. The film follows an ambitious jazz student 'Andrew' (Teller) and his abusive instructor (Simmons). Benoist co-stars as Andrew's love interest and girlfriend 'Nicole.' Whiplash met wide success upon its premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, at which it won top prizes for the Grand Jury and Audience Awards. The film also earned a nomination for "Best Picture" at the 87th Annual Academy Awards, and took home the Oscars for "Best Film Editing," "Best Sound Mixing," and "Best Supporting Actor" (J.K. Simmons).

Born and raised in Colorado, Benoist made her film debut just one year after graduating high school. She emerged on the scene as 'Laurel' in the 2008 drama Tennessee alongside Mariah Carey, Adam Rothenberg, and Ethan Peck. The story follows two brothers' journey to find their estranged father after he is diagnosed with terminal leukemia.

From there, Benoist catapulted into the spotlight with her starring role as 'Marley Rose' on seasons four and five on Fox's hit show "Glee." Her character, colloquially dubbed 'The New Rachel' in the premiere episode of season four, rode the waves of success from Lea Michele's character 'Rachel Berry,' yet was quick to earn her own acclaim as the beloved new addition to the show.

Benoist has graced television audiences on a multitude of shows since 2010, including "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Blue Bloods," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "The Good Wife," and an arc on Showtime's critically acclaimed series "Homeland."

She currently splits her time between Los Angeles, California and Vancouver, British Columbia, where she films "Supergirl."

Paul Sparks

Steve Schneider

Currently, Paul Sparks may be seen in the Netflix original series, "House of Cards," as the Underwoods' provocative biographer, Thomas Yates. In 2016, Sparks earned an Emmy® nomination for his performance in the Drama Guest Actor category.

Next, Sparks will appear in the drama, The Greatest Showman, alongside Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya. The film is set to be released by Twentieth Century Fox on December 25, 2017.

Last year, Paul appeared in the Starz series "The Girlfriend Experience," which was produced by Steven Soderbergh. The series premiered on Starz on April 10, 2016. Additionally, Paul also appeared as a recurring character in the award-winning HBO series "The Night Of." The series premiered in June 2016.He also starred in the Warner Brothers Sci-Fi drama, "Midnight Special," alongside Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton and Kirsten Dunst. This is his second collaboration with Jeff Nichols after "Mud." The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 12, 2016 and opened in theaters on March 18, 2016.

In the Spring of 2016, Paul concluded his run on stage in Sam Shepard's Pulitzer Prize-winning off-Broadway production of Buried Child, alongside Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, Rich Sommer, Taissa Farmiga and Nat Wolff. The play opened on February 17, 2016 and it had its final performance at The Pershing Square Signature Center on April 3, 2016. Paul earned a nomination for a 2016 Lucille Lortel Award in the category of Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play for his performance.

In 2014, Paul completed his 5-season run as Mickey Doyle in HBO's award-winning series, "Boardwalk Empire," for which he won two Screen Actors Guild Awards in the category of Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

Paul's distinguished work on stage has also earned him five Drama Desk Awards nominations in collaboration with some of theatre's brightest playwrights: Adam Rapp, Craig Wright, and Stephen Belber.

Shea Whigham

Mitch Decker

Shea Whigham was born in Florida and educated at SUNY Purchase. Armed with a New York City theatre background, Whigham got his big break in 2000 when director Joel Schumacher cast him opposite Colin Farrell in Tigerland.

Since then he has amassed an impressive list of credits, working with such legendary film directors as Martin Scorsese, Robert Redford, Terrence Malick, Werner Herzog, Oliver Stone, David O. Russell and Robert Rodriguez, as well as next generation auteurs such as David Gordon Green, Jeff Nichols, James Ponsoldt and Adam Wingard. The litany of formidable actors he has worked alongside is equally long: Robert De Niro, Anthony Hopkins, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christian Bale, Sean Penn and Viola Davis, to name a few.

His work as Eli Thompson on HBO's smash hit "Boardwalk Empire," alongside Steve Buscemi and Kelly MacDonald helped to earn him and the show numerous Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards for Best Ensemble. His additional television credits include Cary Fukunaga's "True Detective" for HBO, ABC's "Agent Carter" and Graham Yost's F/X drama "Justified." Most recently, he was seen on HBO's comedy series "Vice Principals," opposite Danny McBride, Netflix's motion picture remake of the Japanese Manga series "Death Note" and Noah Hawley's latest season of "Fargo" on FX.

Recent film releases include Star Trek Beyond, the indie films Cop Car, opposite Kevin Bacon, and Lila & Eve, with Jennifer Lopez and Viola Davis, which both premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival; Malick's Knight of Cups; and A Country Called Home, alongside Mackenzie Davis and Imogen Poots. Whigham's upcoming slate is just as prolific: High Wire Act, opposite Jon Hamm, the highly anticipated Sicario sequel, Soldado; "Wheelman," opposite Frank Grillo for Netflix; an appearance on the hit show "Narcos," Adam McKay's upcoming Dick Cheney film and Damian Chazelle's astronaut film First Man.